Super Squadra

In preparation for the start of the Texas racing calendar, developers plowed through some primo Texas Hill Country real estate in anticipation of future Lake Travis communities off of Lakeway Blvd and the tiny, well kept secret back way to Pace Bend Park, Bee Creek Road. Austin cyclists, please rejoice and take pride in a fresh new bike path through Lakeway, Highlands blvd. There are plenty of turns and chances to use a full range of 2010 Force cassette choices. Best of all, for at least the next six hours or until housing starts to pick up, there are no homes on this closed section of road. Our regional developers have our interest in mind, fresh new pavement and rolling hills to gain fitness for the first four race weekends of the young season.

Continuing on during our three county tour, we marched west through Spicewood and on to the actual Dead Man’s hole, fighting wind the whole way to our most western point of the ride. This was about 55mi from home, and we were worried about making it back before dark until the 30mph gusts pushed our pace so that the 107mi was completed in a shade under 5:20. Some of that was thanks to the non-sock wearing contingent of triathletes that towed us early in the ride, thanks, guys! Be sure to check out the new roads west of Austin when looking for adventure and let us know what you think of our new Lakeway private cycling race track.

This past weekend we hosted riders of all ages and abilities at the Driveway with our Advanced Skills Clinic. There were riders from Houston, North Texas and a current Worlds (Jr.) medalist, all living and playing happily with each other and aiming to polish their skills with the season looming ahead.

The weather, for a second day in a row of clinic activities, was beautiful, sunny, and warming quickly. We began the day with a challenging cornering drill wherein we suffered our one and only mechanical of the day, a rolled tubular tire. Luckily rider and equipment emerged intact and would successfully complete the morning’s activities. It was a reminder to everyone how important it is to know the limitations of your equipment when mishaps are small and isolated before jumping into a mass start where the stakes are higher.

When the morning dew burned off the Driveway infield, we headed into our patented Circles of Death where we practice bumping and low speed balance. The most entertaining thing each year is watching some of the kamikaze junior riders wreak havoc amongst some of the more “mature” riders only to be beaten out by the latter group’s studied and deliberate approach. Slow and steady wins the race? Not usually in a bike race but definitely the case in this drill.


After that we threw shoes back on and practiced bumping each other on pavement this time… No actualy that’d be a terrible idea. We then did a favorite drill that pairs up chaos and feedzones, two things that go together as naturally as babies and pacifiers. There were some slapped bottles and a few discarded bottles that were pedaled over (green energy drink guts splashing accross the tarmac) but in the end I think our attendees were better prepared to safely take that single, crucial feed in the middle of Ft Davis stage race or Copperas Cove Classic in the dead heat of June.


Then the most anticipated part of the day… when I would divulge the secret to winning every single sprint our attendees would ever enter. Without further ado, the secret as captured by photography for the first and only time ever…


That’s right, the number four. I guess you’d have to be there to know what it means and how to unleash it against your competitors. The second half of the clinic we did a number of race simulations and even a full-blown mini-race dominated by Lawson but much more importantly won in sweeping fashion by Metro VW’s Todd Farrell and Will Rader. You’ll have to join us next year or on a Wednesday night at the Driveway (details coming soon) to get the rest of the details from the morning.

Thanks a milli to Kevin Schaefer for his beautiful images and again being our Graham Watson, only way fitter and less bald. Enjoy a few more pictures from the second half of the morning.

Everyone has been on group rides where a new rider is obviously nervous about riding close to others. Unfortunately, rather than teaching the new rider how to safely ride in the group, or roll a smooth, efficient paceline, other cyclists generally tend to try and stay as far away from the beginner as possible. At our cycling clinic for riders new to racing this past Sunday, we aimed to teach beginner cyclists to ride comfortably in a group, work well in a paceline, and sharpen their cornering skills, all in a no-pressure environment at the Driveway Austin racetrack.

The morning of the clinic, I feared that the cup of hot water required to unfreeze a lock on my truck was an omen of misery to come. Thankfully the sun came up with clear skies and the still air made for great weather. Nuun brought out some goodies, and hot chocolate and coffee fended off any lingering effects of the cold.



The clinic attendees eagerly blasted through all of the drills and were very receptive to any pointers and words of advice we had to offer. It seemed like we had just begun when the riders could all ride well together; whether in a paceline, echelon, or simply riding in as a group with proper etiquette—all of the clinic attendees graduated with honors!



Super Squadra is hosting a ride for all clinic attendees on Saturday the 16th followed by the 17th Advanced Skills Clinic for the more race-oriented riders. What do we have in store? Well, it’s too awesome to describe with one little sentence…you’ll just have to experience it yourself. There’s still time to register, but limited space! Register here.

It’s hard to believe that 20th Century Fox’s executives hated Star Wars upon their first viewing. Star Wars legend has it that some of the board of directors fell into a deep slumber during their first viewing in beautiful Century City, CA. Death Star, R2-D2,  The Force, que? However, during the 40 or so years between that fateful viewing, much has been changed. The Death Star has since been destroyed, R2-D2 is serving out retirement in peaceful Naboo, and The Force has now been converted into a tangible form, Sram Force. Though often forgotten due to older brother Sram Red, Sram Force has a distinct price advantage with negligible form sapping weight penalty. Zero loss in shifters, new graphics, and material upgrades to quite nearly the whole package makes for a group that passes all 100 rules for bike set up, aesthetics. On the road the components felt eager thanks to Bicycle Sport Shop’s expert mechanics, never missing a shift or feeling anything like a second tier group.



Notable features

-Extra 2 teeth in rear cassette when compared to our former red cassettes.

-New million dollar Sram factory chain lube, which made for the quietest Super Squadra team ride, “Of All Time”.

-2150 grams for the group

-Stealth graphics

-Zero Loss in both shifters.

Don’t be daft. The dark side uses Red (lightsabers). Choose Sram Force.

We have received a number of inquiries about a cold weather contingency plan. Because of the volume of inquiries we have received, it overwhelmingly sounds like clinic goers would appreciate a later start.

For tomorrow’s Driveway clinic session originally scheduled to run from 8:30am-11:30 we will move the start back to 9:30-noon. We are unable to book the Driveway for longer than that as there is a conference group scheduled for the second half of the day.

Lunch will be served at 12:30pm at the Bicycle Sport Shop S. Lamar and the tactical seminar will begin at 1pm as originally scheduled. We will start at that time and of course if anyone is still eating their Thundercloud box lunch, that will be no problem.

ALL ATTENDEES should plan to bring a pair of tennis shoes (cross-training shoes, etc, something you would wear in Phys-Ed class in if you were/are in school). We’ll need these for one of the drills and you’d really be bummed if you missed out on it.

Additionally we will have hot coffee (which will be warm to hold if not to actually drink!) on site at the Driveway as well. Please dress warm even if it means bringing your non-cycling gear.

Finally, I’d like to confirm that everyone is aware of the change. If you can email registration maestro Phil Wikoff (me: pcwikoff@gmail.com) acknowledging that you are aware of the schedule change, you will be spared the phone call that I will place if I don’t hear back.

See everyone tomorrow!

For those who’ve been holding out on registering for the Super Squadra Beginner Cycling Clinic and Tactics Seminar, we’ve extended the registration until 10 p.m. this evening.

Get signed up by visiting the BikeReg.com registration link, here.

New year, new bike. Specialized SL3 with Sram Force, Zipp 303s are getting careful attention at Bicycle Sport Shop, stop in and take a look.

Thunder Cloud Subs is proud to support Super Squadra Cycling Clinics on 1/10 and 1/17 with delicious and nutritious complimentary box lunches for attendees. Ian is so excited about it that he rode his bike for the first time time in nine weeks after collarbone surgery right down the street to his neighborhood sub shop.

Click here for clinic registration.

Holland Racing is offering a killer deal on our upcoming cycling clinics.

Bring your BikeReg receipt showing that you signed up for the Super Squadra Beginner Skills Clinic on January 10th or the Advanced Skills Clinic on January 17th, and Holland Racing will put a crisp Ten Dollar Bill in your hand at either the Belterra Romantico Classico or the Kenny Hill Autowerks Spring Classic at Driveway Austin on February 6-7, 2010.

Do both the Beginner and Advanced Skills Clinics and you’ll get $20 back!

Register for the clinics, here.

Thanks a ton Kevin Schaefer for the great video!!